Tag: Salvation

Which Side Are You On?

On By TimIn Psalm 002, Spiritual WarfareLeave a comment

History provides some poignant lessons… Among those is this one. I know I’ve written about this recently, but here is an important contemporary idea that needs to be considered in light of what the Bible says.

Why do the nations rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord
and against His anointed, saying,
“Let us tear off their bonds
and cast away their ropes from us.”

Psalm 2:1–3

How could this apply today, it’s just poetic literature, right?

Reading it carefully, it is God speaking to the nations and the people of those countries about their policies. God calls their plans self-serving.

The kings of the Earth set themselves. This clearly states that the leaders of the nations set themselves in opposition to God and Jesus. There are also rulers who counsel with these kings. Some of your translations read princes, but I think something a bit more sinister is at play. The Hebrew word translated here as ruler is razan. It means heavy, as in commanding. It is translated as prince or ruler. When we look at the Septuagint, the Hebrew scholars chose the Greek word archon. This adds a spiritual context that may hint at some underlying context.

Archon is used in many forms and places in the New Testament. It is used in the gospels as a descriptor of Beelzebub, ruler of demons (Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15.) It is also used in the Gospel of John to describe the ruler of this world. For the discussion at hand, let’s look at the two ways Paul uses it.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the age of this world and according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

Ephesians 2:1–2

And again here:

For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

In the first citation, Paul says there is a prince of the power of the air. To understand, think that there is an archon of the exousia of the air. The second instance tells us we wrestle not against principalities, those are the archons. We also wrestle against exousias (powers) and kosmokrators (rulers.) These are dark powers at work in this world.

Considering that, what may be said in Psalm 2 of the kings and rules taking counsel together is that there are dark powers working with human leaders to effect policies in our world. The question then comes, is there evidence for such a thing?

I think there is ample evidence. Step back into recent history:

There is a source called Secret Nazi Plans for Eastern Europe A Study of Lebensraum Policies by Dr. Ihor Kamenetsky. He writes of the German occupation of Poland and the desire to eliminate what the Germans deemed as sub-human. The occupiers desired to weaken Polish society to accept their ideas. Those socialist Germans issued the following decree:

“All measures which have the tendency to limit births are to be tolerated or to be supported. Abortion in the remaining area (of Poland) must be declared free from punishment. The means for abortion and contraceptive means may be offered publicly without any police restriction. Homosexuality is always to be declared legal. The institutions and persons involved professionally in abortion practices are not to be interfered with by police. Racial-hygenic measures are not to be promoted.” — (Page 139, Secret Nazi Plans for eastern Europe)

It is said… Those that do not know history are doomed to repeat it. Looking again at Psalm 2 seems to reveal a prophetic pattern that comes with substantial consequences and an ultimate consummation.

The first point in the socialist’s decree is unrestrictive abortion and contraception. Given modern propensities, these may be perceived as desirable things to have. After all, with global warming, limiting the human population is probably a good practice. But is it?

Except the Lord build the house,
those who build labor in vain;
except the Lord guards the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain for you to rise up early,
to stay up late,
and to eat the bread of hard toil,
for He gives sleep to His beloved.
Look, children are a gift of the Lord,
and the fruit of the womb is a reward.
As arrows in the hand of a mighty warrior,
so are the children of one’s youth.
Happy is the man
who has his quiver full of them;
he shall not be ashamed
when he speaks with the enemies at the gate.

Psalm 127:1–5

God commands humans to be fruitful and multiply. He calls children a gift of His, they are a reward. They are even deemed weapons of a mighty warrior. Could that be why the Germans wanted to curtail these things under the lie of freedom?

There is also the unspoken idea present in the decree… Marriage to one person for life is too restrictive.

Look… The enemy doesn’t change tactics at all. He gets people to buy into the idea that the institutions given by God are too restrictive. God gave gender, male and female. That is now declared too binary. God told humans to be fruitful and multiply, but having children binds one to home. God gave marriage as a gift, but the idea of one man and one woman is old-fashioned. The means to be fruitful, that is sex for procreation is also considered too narrow. These things are now declared as too binding, just like ropes used to tie something up. They are considered limitations to human freedom. It is the same proclamation of bondage and a false promise of liberty that the nachash (serpent) spoke to Eve in the garden, “You shall be as gods.”.

The National Socialists in Germany knew how to demoralize humans. We are witnessing the repeat by decree of governments worldwide. It is just as if what Psalm 2 says… Is true now. Yet, history demonstrates that atrocities follow such things.

The War Against Humans

The enemy is at war with humans. There is an all-out battle waging in both the spiritual world and the physical world centered on human procreation. It was declared in Genesis 3:15, and it has God as Victor on one side and dark powers on another. It is like the activities of world governments are telling us Who the real Victor is.

I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures saying, with voice like thunder, “Come and see.” And I looked, and there before me was a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow. And a crown was given to him, and he went forth conquering that he might overcome.
When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come and see.” Then another horse that was red went forth. Power was given to him who sat on it to take peace from the earth, causing people to kill one another. Then a great sword was given to him.
When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there was a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not harm the oil and the wine.”
When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” So I looked, and there was a pale horse, and the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed him. Power over a fourth of the earth was given to them, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had held. They cried out with a loud voice, “How long, O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers should be completed, who would be killed as they were.
I watched as He opened the sixth seal. And suddenly there was a great earthquake. The sun became black, like sackcloth made from goat hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when it is shaken by a strong wind. Then the heavens receded like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and the commanding officers and the strong and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. They said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of His wrath has come. Who is able to withstand it?”

Revelation 6:1–17

It is just as He said in Psalm 2…

He who sits in the heavens laughs; the LORD ridicules them.
Then He will speak to them in His wrath and terrify them in His burning anger:
“I have installed My king on Zion, My holy hill.”
I will declare the decree of the LORD: He said to me, “You are My son; this day have I begotten you.
Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You will break them with a scepter of iron; you will dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
Now then, you kings, be wise; be admonished, you judges of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear; tremble with trepidation!
Kiss the son, lest He become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath kindles in a flash. Blessed are all who seek refuge in Him.

Psalm 2:4–12

Truth is pure. He knows the end from the beginning and has told us in advance.

Children are a heritage. There is no middle ground.

Which side are you on?

He Who Sits in the Heavens Laughs

On By TimIn Last Days, Psalm 0021 Comment

Something that struck me from a text taught the other night. It speaks to the urgency of the time in which we live. Things are quickly coming to the point that God is going to establish His throne on Earth and set His Son on it.

Why do the nations rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord
and against His anointed, saying,
“Let us tear off their bonds
and cast away their ropes from us.”

Psalm 2:1–3

When considering the idea that human culture wants to be free from what they perceive as bondage that God puts on them, what does it mean?

Well, let’s just look at the last 70 or so years in the USA. Christianity, the Bible, prayer and God were removed from the schoolhouse. Those same things were also removed from the halls of the government. The people tend to not want influence from those things to enter the school, the government, nor the culture.

There has also been a movement that politicizes morality. What was once immoral now becomes legalized, so people can think it’s not wrong. This is part of the trickery of the age that ensnares people. It looks like hedonistic libertarianism, but without temperance it’s going to bring destruction. More people attempt to be free from constraints of old-fashioned Christianity.

We know God made man and breathed life into him. Science says man came from rocks, rain, and a zap in that primordial ooze that came from rain falling on rocks. Then from a long series of happenstance, humans evolved from that first life. Thats the laughable story science (so-called) crafts in order to loosen any ties to God. Humans don’t have to be bound to thinking of themselves as a creation (and possession) of God.

What else follows?

God established marriage as one man and one woman. That idea is considered too constraining. Marriage has been expanded by law, and is being pushed to extremes. The basic foundation and establishment of human community given by God is considered too narrow.

The blessings of sexual relations God have to be practiced within those boundaries of covenant marriage are another old-fashioned idea. It is considered wrong to confine sexual relations to just one man and one woman in marriage.

There is the issue of divorce. Because a lifelong commitment to one person is too restrictive. As a result the blessings of motherhood and fatherhood are also easily abandoned. Even more so with the availability of sterilization and abortion procedures.

Even the definition of love as selflessness is too restrictive. People are taught to look out primarily for themselves and their own fleeting pleasures.

There is even the idea that fathers can give birth because the binary basics of gender, male and female as God made them, are to narrow. Society is in the midst of freeing itself from that.

He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord ridicules them. Then He will speak to them in His wrath and terrify them in His burning anger: “I have installed My king on Zion, My holy hill.”

Psalm 2:4–6

Why would God laugh?

Because He watches the vain futility as humans to try to abandon God.

It is clear that this Psalm is giving us a time marker. It is like it is saying, when these things happen, guess what comes next?

These are the very times we live in and those which God laughs at.

If that is so, it seems that He is going to bring His burning anger to those who do these things. Some call this period of time the tribulation. That is when God’s anger comes upon the nations of the earth. What epitomizes that period of time is the return of Jesus as King. He comes back and rules the earth for 1,000 years from a throne in Jerusalem.

I will declare the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are My son; this day have I begotten you. Ask of Me,
and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession. You will break them with a scepter of iron; you will dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

Psalm 2:7–9

When Jesus comes again, who will be those broken by the scepter of iron?

Who will be those shattered to pieces like a broken vessel?

It will be the ones who have abandoned the old-fashioned idea of temperance is self-control. Loosing the bonds of God is an exercise in vanity. Christianity and morality, as given by God, are deemed too restrictive.

But there is an admonition to those who would hear it.

Now then, you kings, be wise; be admonished, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear; tremble with trepidation! Kiss the son, lest He become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath kindles in a flash. Blessed are all who seek refuge in Him.

Psalm 2:10–12

My hope and prayer is that you are of those who honor God by honoring His Son. There is no other way to be truly free of the wrath of God other than seeking refuge in Him.

But 2,000 Years?

On By TimIn Hosea 05, Hosea 06, Israel, Return of Jesus1 Comment

I will again return to My place until they acknowledge their offense and seek My face. In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.

Hosea 5:15

How often does one read the minor prophets, let alone Hosea?

Well, for a clear overview of the relationship between God and Israel (both kingdoms,) read the book of Hosea. In a sense, Hosea is a high-level view of Israel and God’s relationship with her. God reveals His relationship with Israel in the relationship Hosea has with his own wife. It is a rather striking and beautiful account of redemption.

In this part of Hosea, God is withdrawing from Israel and Judah. He is going away until Israel acknowledges her offense and seeks Him. It is this affliction that comes with the drawing back of God that takes them to the point of earnestly seeking Him.

I am prone to think that occurred in AD 32 with the national rejection of the Messiah. Soon after, Jerusalem was besieged and disappeared from the role of nations. It had been like that for almost 2,000 years. As will be seen, this absence causes some to scoff at what the Bible teaches.

Affliction from the Lord’s Withdrawal

It is this absence that brings affliction. History is replete with them. One can clearly perceive the affliction in the history of antisemitism. It seems to ramp up on a bell curve. The Holocaust during World War II is not going to be the ultimate affliction. The one coming will be far worse. Jesus gave warning about that, with stern instructions.

“So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. Let him who is in the field not return to take his clothes.

Matthew 24:15–18

It’s going to be really bad. Far worse than anything ever experienced. Don’t believe me, believe what Jesus said.

Woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse in those days! Pray that your escape will not be in the winter or on the Sabbath. For then will be great tribulation, such as has not happened since the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.
“Unless those days were shortened, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

Matthew 24:19–22

It is these things that demonstrate the affliction that will bring repentance. That change of heart is written about by another prophet. When reading, pay attention to Who is speaking and what it is He is going to do. Remember that.

The oracle of the word of the Lord against Israel.
Thus says the Lord, the One who stretches out the heavens and establishes the earth and forms the spirit of man within him: I am going to make Jerusalem a cup of reeling before all the surrounding nations. And when there is a siege against Judah, it is also against Jerusalem. And it will be on that day that I will set Jerusalem as a weighty stone to all the peoples. All who carry it will surely gash themselves, and all the nations of the land will be gathered against it. On that day I will strike every horse with confusion and its rider with madness, but for the house of Judah I will keep My eyes open although I will strike with blindness every horse of the peoples. Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, “There is strength for us with those residing in Jerusalem by the Lord of Hosts, their God.”
On that day I will set Judah like a fiery pot among wood and as a flaming torch among cut grain. And they will devour to the right and left all the surrounding peoples, while Jerusalem will still reside in her place, the place of Jerusalem.
The Lord will deliver the tents of Judah as before, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of those dwelling in Jerusalem will not eclipse Judah. On that day the Lord will defend those residing in Jerusalem; and even the one who stumbles among them will be as David on that day. And the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord going out before them. On that day I will seek to destroy all the nations who come out against Jerusalem.

Zechariah 12:1–9

On that day, the proverbial lights come on in the hearts and minds of Israelis. They will perceive the hand of God moving for them even in their affliction. Then there is a sudden change of heart by those towards God.

And I will pour out on the house of David and over those dwelling in Jerusalem a spirit of favor and supplication so that they look to Me, whom they have pierced through. And they will mourn over him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly over him as a firstborn.

Zechariah 12:10

As an Israeli, the question I would ask is when did we pierce God?

The Lord Ends His Withdrawal

We see an end to the withdrawal of the Lord. After some 2,000 years of languishing, He again showers Jerusalem and Israel with favor. Thats the promised time for Israel, and a cleansing of the land.

That’s God’s perspective, but what about the people?

Come, let us return to the Lord, for He has torn, and He will heal us. He has struck, and He will bind us up.

Hosea 6:1

The people themselves… They come to their senses. They turn and start to seek the Lord. It is the affliction that comes with the withdrawal that leads them to repent. They know He will bind them up, healing the wounds of affliction.

That is not the only thing that happens.

After two days He will revive us. On the third day, He will raise us up, that we may live before Him.

Hosea 6:2

Think hard about what is being said. Why would the Israelis think that the affliction would only be two days with healing oncoming after, and seeking peace on the third day?

Could there be another idea lurking just under the surface here?

Israel left the Lord. After two days, they will be revived and raised up. On the third day they will live before God.

I detect some messianic hints here.

But 2,000 Years

I have had that very objection raised quite a bit in the last two weeks. The latest came with a dose of mockery toward God. It came with the usual insistence of “that generation,” “at hand,” and “soon.” As if the events of the last days would have to happen in the first century and there was no other explanation. He said, “heaven doesn’t know how to tell time.”

Peter wrote something about that, which seems to bear on the discussion.

Know this first, that there shall come scoffers in the last days who walk after their own lusts, and say, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they were since the beginning of the creation.” For they willingly ignore that, by the word of God the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed standing out of the water and in the water, by which the world that then existed was flooded with water and perished. But by the same word, the heavens and the earth that now exist are being reserved for fire, kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

2 Peter 3:3–7

Providentially, this portion also provides an answer to the mockery.

But, beloved, do not be ignorant of this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness. But He is patient with us, because He does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:8–9

Wait. Did Peter connect a thousand years with mockery in the end times?

The passage of a thousand years is like a day in heaven. It is like saying the passage of linear time on earth is not the same as in heaven. This directly speaks to those who claim that God is slow in keeping His word. Particularly as it applies to those things about the latter days.

After two days… Or really… After 2,000 years, He will revive us. On the third day they are raised up. Is that resurrection language?

Those Israelis live before Him. The third day would also be 1,000 years. Is that a reference to the Millennial Reign of Jesus?

It seems to fit well with other things in the Bible. Especially when considering what Paul wrote about resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. I have a long article concerning resurrection and futurism.

And about the third day being the Millennium…

Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain;
like the spring rains He will water the earth.

Hosea 6:3

His appearance is as sure as the dawn. All of the third day imagery also seems to align with this post on the Morning Star.

Concluding Thoughts

It sounds an awful lot like 2,000 years of affliction will be given to Israel. Since the rejection of the Messiah, they’ve been abandoned. Now as we witness some semblance of returning to seek after the Lord, it points to the soon return of Jesus.

As indicated in this recent post, we seem to be living in the last of the last days. Considering the weeks of years, and how the Bible teaches the new week begins on Nisan 10. Let’s do some more math.

If Jesus was crucified in the year AD 32. 2,000 years after that, ends up at 2032. 2032 would seem to be the year of resurrection and reconciliation of Israel, as well as the beginning of the Millennium. If so, there are seven years of terrible affliction before that… Which gives us the year 2025.

Take it for what it’s worth. It’s not date setting. It is pointing to seasons and times to which we have much written.

One Gets What They Give

On By TimIn Genesis 12, SalvationLeave a comment

I will make of you a great nation;
I will bless you
and make your name great,
so that you will be a blessing.
I will bless them who bless you
and curse him who curses you,
and in you all families of the earth
will be blessed.”

Genesis 12:2–3

Considering the things people are doing today, there are many chanting “From the River to the sea…” Not quite understanding the genocide inherent in the refrain. The ultimate goal there is the annihilation of the Israelis as a people.

Given the promise God made to Abraham and his descendants, there is blessing to those who bless. Cursing comes to those who curse. In other words, one will get in return what one gives to Israel.

That in itself is a practical personal application. There is a Hebrew word used in hermeneutics. It is remez, which generally means hint. Hint, as in there’s something else here. Knowing that, consider this:

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

Hosea 11:1

Israel was called out of Egypt by God. Moses led them through the wilderness and eventually to the Promised Land. The promise given to Abraham was kept by God. Along the way, those that treated Israel favorably got favor back. Those that didn’t received the unfavorable.

That verse in Hosea is prophetic. Matthew quoted it in his Gospel.

When he rose, he took the young Child and His mother by night, and departed into Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod, to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called My Son.”

Matthew 2:14–15

Clearly Israel serves as not just a synonym for Jesus. The two terms are interchangeable. Some Christians even call Jesus the “Israel of God.”

That has grand implications. One of those may be unsettling to some. That Israel was to bring salvation to the world. What is true for One is true for the Other. Jesus did bring salvation to the world, as is true for Israel.

So… To come full-circle.

One will get in return what one gives to Jesus. Those that give Him their life receive life in return. Those that don’t, won’t. (What I mean is you will lose your life eventually, and when you meet Him after, you will not have life to give to Him.)

God explained the principle. I will bless those that bless Jesus, and curse those who curse Jesus.

The deeper application is to you. There is only so much time that is available to anyone… Why are you waiting to give Jesus your life?

It might not be there when you want to do it.

They Have One Language

On By TimIn Genesis 11, Return of JesusLeave a comment

In the previous post, we encountered a time when humans were gathered together for one purpose. They built a tower, most likely to call the gods back and continue the corruption of human DNA that occurred before the flood. I realize that might seem like a speculative assertion to some, but it is a clear idea taught within the first 6 chapters of Genesis. The language of the ancients doesn’t quite match our modern understanding. Genesis 3 is clear, it is a seed war.

The Lord said, “The people are one and they have one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do; now nothing that they propose to do will be impossible for them.

Genesis 11:6

It is difficult to not grasp the unspoken idea of technology, and how it increases the more unified humanity becomes. That is an unspoken idea that is present in this text. It also says that the creativity of humanity has no bounds. How does that fit into the idea of human sovereignty and that of God? Perhaps that will be for a future discussion.

What we see in the account is that the world then was aligned with one purpose, one common language, and one leader.

It is said history repeats itself. I prefer to think that history rhymes. What do I mean?

When considering Biblical prophecy, it can sometimes lurk just beneath the surface of the Biblical text. Remember what God says about the glory of God to conceal a matter (Proverbs 25:2.) In this case, I think God gave us a pattern. I like to think of prophecy as a pattern that is matched. Could it be the text here serves as something that may be patterned to fit something yet to come?

Looking at the myriad of the types and shadows in the Bible, one particular comes to mind in this moment. Look at the world leader introduced last time… Nimrod. To assemble the people for one purpose implies that he is charismatic. That is just one of the ways he is considered as a type of the Antichrist, the coming prince of the end times. The prophet Daniel wrote of him. Here are some additional details of what he will be like.

After this I saw in the visions at night a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and exceedingly strong. And it had great iron teeth. It devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the rest with its feet. And it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
I considered the horns, when there came up among them another little horn before whom three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Daniel 7:7–8

Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Pleasant Land. It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground and stamped upon them. Indeed, he magnified himself even to the Prince of the host, and from Him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. Because of rebellion, an army was given to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifice; and it cast truth to the ground. It practiced this and prospered.

Daniel 8:9–12

“The king shall do according to his will. And he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak blasphemous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper until the indignation is accomplished. For that which is determined shall be done. He shall regard neither the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above them all. But instead he shall honor the god of forces, a god whom his fathers did not know. He shall honor him with gold and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus he shall do in the strongest of fortresses with a foreign god. He shall give great honor to those who acknowledge him, and shall cause them to rule over the many and shall divide the land for gain.

Daniel 11:36–39

Some tend to think that these passages describe history. I hold that they have their ultimate fulfillment in a yet future person. One who will seem to be wise and charismatic, moving souls toward himself. Eventually, he will be revealed to be diabolical and ruthless. Just as the text in Genesis hints at about Nimrod.

Cush was the father of Nimrod. He became a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. Therefore it is said, “Even like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.”

Genesis 10:8–9

The text says that Nimrod was a mighty hunter before the Lord. Before in this instance is better understood as face-to-face. Like enemies watch each other. In other words, Nimrod was against the Lord. The hunting he did was for the souls… People. This fits part of the impetus for the construction of the tower.

Then they said, “Come, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top will reach to heaven, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”

Genesis 11:4

It is my opinion that this is a curated view of the history. It is given to derive a particular point. One that emphasizes the fact that the people are united against God. It also seems that those people have been given a glimpse of the most likely outcome, they will be scattered. But they unite anyway in hopes of preventing that.

Now… Focus on our modern experience.

We all live in a time that is very much akin to what is described in Genesis. The world is of one language. That language is not one spoken outright by humans. Nevertheless, it unites humanity. This binary language undergirds all of the code that drives information technology. This networked technology unites the world with instantaneous communication, translation, and culture. Any event can be instantly transmitted to almost the entire world… Today. It is easy to say the world is already united in one language.

God says… Nothing will be impossible for them.

There is also this whole idea of increased technology. That goes without saying. Apps are updated regularly. Firmware and software have new features added all of the time. Hardware gets smaller and more powerful.

Then think of all of the non-governmental agencies that establish worldwide policies. What we get hints of is a one-world government whose shadow looms over us today. The prospective policies offered seem to be a panacea as the lords carry on about them. It is an ever-coalescing centralization of decision-making and policy. What happens when one person seizes control of it all?

I think there is a portent there for many. It aligns with what the Bible says about the end.

It tells us that Jesus is going to return to Earth. He is going to come down from space like an invader, in all practical aspects. The world is preparing your mind for that. The idea is that the world will be united in an attempt to stop Him.

Babel points us to Jesus.

I am going to tell you, it was Jesus Who came down at Babel. He didn’t come to destroy those aligned against Him… Yet. When His day comes, it will be to halt the work again. But this time, it won’t be a scattering of the people. It will be a sudden gathering of those plotting against Him to Har Megiddo, the mount of assembly (that’s Jerusalem.) That gathering isn’t going to be cordial.

History rhymes. It does in many ways.

The first advent of Jesus was as a suffering Servant. The next is as a conquering King.

Just as Babel teaches, time is quickly passing. There is a reckoning for all in this life. Don’t fall for the lies of the charismatic politician who promises to fix everything.

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

Matthew 16:13

Jesus doesn’t just ask those men that question… But the real blessing is for those who believe the truth now.

Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:16

Escaping the Corruption of the World

On By TimIn 2 Peter 01, Eternal Security, Salvation1 Comment

There exists a vast difference in between the ones who escape the corruption of the world and partake of the divine nature and those who escape the defilements of the world for a season.

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

2 Peter 1:2

In the introduction, Peter is established the tone. That tone is to Peter is encourage other believers to hold fast. Not that they might lose out on eternal life at some future time, but to ensure their own maturity in the faith. To grow to maturity ought to be the goal of every Christian.

At the beginning of this epistle, Peter establishes a premise. Sometimes that premise is blurred by the particular translation of the Bible used which may lead to some insecurities. Because of this, I prefer a literal word-for-word translation. This helps me to grasp the nuances in word meanings being translated. It also helps to have tools available to try and understand the subtleties in the original language that do not translate clearly. Taking the extra time for a bit of a deeper dive helps to ensure right division of the Bible.

With that said, let’s dive in!

His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who has called us by His own glory and excellence, by which He has given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, so that through these things you might become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2 Peter 1:3–4

At the outset, Peter is saying that Christians have everything they need no to live godly lives. These come by the promises of God. Promises that you have no part in save to receive them. He keeps them, even in light of what you do… Because it’s His word. His word is not made void by the freedom He has bestowed on us.

Because we have these promises, we escape the corruption of the world and become partakers of the divine nature. That statement is loaded with lots of stuff to unpack. Note the phrasing, escape the corruption. The corruption is in the world through lust. Think of the word lust as desire and intense craving.

Focus on the word corruption. It is the Greek word phthoras which does mean corruption and can also mean destruction. The destruction is ultimately death. That is the end result of sin. But the Christian escapes this.

For this reason make every effort to add virtue to your faith; and to your virtue, knowledge; and to your knowledge, self-control; and to your self-control, patient endurance; and to your patient endurance, godliness; and to your godliness, brotherly kindness; and to your brotherly kindness, love.

2 Peter 1:5–7

Peter then provides a prescription for the saved person who has eternal life. Keep in mind that God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. The outline is indeed doable by every Christian.

It is self-explanatory in nature. Faith is required to get eternal life and forgiveness is sins, it is also necessary to live a Christian life. It’s not faith alone. We add virtue onto our faith.

Virtue is excellence of character… Blamelessness. Add knowledge to virtue and then self-control. Self-control is different than virtue and comes after. Patience, godliness, kindness then follow, and finally love.

Most of us get it backwards. We think we love first. Peter is telling us that we cannot truly love without all of those things that come orderly before.

For if these things reside in you and abound, they ensure that you will neither be useless nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:8

The discussions that sometimes revolve around 2 Peter tend toward who is really saved. The reality is Peter is encouraging us to be useful and fruitful. This is not unlike much of the Bible, which itself teaches us how to be useful to God. Yes, first we need to be saved. Being useful and fruitful comes with maturity.

Virtue Revisited

I need to say more about virtue. It is a word that conveys an idea of blamelessness. Paul helps us to understand this idea of blamelessness and from whence it comes. He calls it a gift.

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if through the trespass of one man many died, then how much more has the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. The gift is not like the result that came through the one who sinned. For the judgment from one sin led to condemnation, but the free gift, which came after many trespasses, leads to justification. For if by one man’s trespass death reigned through him, then how much more will those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:15–17

Righteousness is the quality of being in accordance with God’s requirements. It’s to be blameless in the law. Paul says this gift comes freely by Jesus to any who want it. Recall what Peter said, He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. We don’t add to it, not maintain it. We simply cannot!

It is this gift of righteousness that leads to justification of life. Meaning you and I as Christians can stand blameless in the presence of God. It’s like me saying “Just as if I’d never sinned!”

Strong’s Dictionary gives us some additional insight to this word virtue (Greek aretē.) It means excellence of character, whether that excellence is intrinsic or attributed. As Paul showed, righteousness is attributed to us by God as a gift.

There is another sense conveyed by virtue… It is the idea of valor. Valor is the strength of mind needed to resist fear and brave danger. Think about that. God has given you that strength of mind.

Adding Virtue to Faith is Then Easy

If you are a Christian… You are saved. You have eternal life. Nothing can move you from that position. Fear can trick you but you don’t have to succumb to it. We resist that fear.

When the enemy comes and tells you you’re not doing enough and therefore not valuable to God, know it’s a lie. It’s designed to make you afraid. Resist it the fear, and the enemy has to flee.

God sent His Son Jesus for us. You and I have value and worth far greater than you can imagine.

The journey from faith to virtue is easy. God gives it to us. It means those that have eternal life by faith cannot be removed from it. If there’s a struggle on whether you can lose the gift of eternal life and your salvation, it stops here. And the text is going to show us that clearly.

Blind and Shortsighted in Forgetfulness

But the one who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted because he has forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

2 Peter 1:9

When we forget who we are, and more to the point… Whose we are… It can lead to shortsightedness. Remember, you and I are already cleansed from former sins. Yes that is true. Yet it goes beyond former sins. Remember Peter saying that we might become partakers of the divine nature?

Paul says we already are.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has resurrected together with Him, having forgiven you all sins. He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us and contrary to us, and He took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed authorities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them by the cross.

Colossians 2:13–15

We are already resurrected with Him. There is no way that can happen unless we are already partaking of the divine nature. Not only that, we are forgiven all sins. These are not just the former sins, but all of them!

Whatever claim the enemy had on us is gone. That’s the freedom of the Christian life. That’s the virtue that we courageously stand in now. We are immovable. We cannot sin enough to lose out on anything God has already given to us. Why would any of us really want to do that?

Now knowledge is added to the virtue. So what now?

Add the rest, self-control, patience, godliness, kindness, and love.

Calling and Election

Therefore, brothers, diligently make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. For in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly provided for you.

2 Peter 1:10–11

We make our calling and election sure. That is not about salvation. It’s about being useful, useful to God. He has given to every one of us unique gifts to be of service to Him. It is our responsibility to know what these things are and how to employ them for His glory. That is making sure your calling is to a particular place of service. Your election is to be useful to God… Not just saved.

Championing Us

Therefore I will not be negligent to always remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the truth that is present with you. I consider it right, as long as I live in this body, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that soon I will take off this body, even as our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me. And I will also be diligent to make sure that after my death you will always remember these things.

2 Peter 1:12–15

We all need encouragement. It ought be a strong part of our lives to encourage and admonish others in the same love that Peter does. We do that by reminding ourselves and others of all of these things.

Warnings

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their judgment, made long ago, does not linger, and their destruction does not slumber.

2 Peter 2:1–3

This discussion takes a darker turn away from encouragement. Peter is instructing as he exposes false teachers and those led astray by them. These deny the Lord that bought them. Does that mean they have lost salvation?

No. As we have already witnessed in Colossians, sin has been nailed to the cross and taken out of the way freeing humanity from the grips of the enemy. The Lord bought the lot of Adam’s race, every single human that has, had, or will have life. To deny that is to never ever come to salvation and receive the gifts of eternal life and righteousness. I admit, it’s a simple conclusion, but it’s right there. It is the truth. That’s why the writer of Hebrews put it this way:

Therefore we should be more attentive to what we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken by angels was true, and every sin and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation, which was first declared by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him?

Hebrews 2:1–3

Considering the immeasurable generosity is such a gesture, how do people ignore it as if nothing really happened?

It would be the height of arrogance and indifference. It’s easy to understand why people go to perdition. And Peter does not have kind things to say about these types of people and the ideas they share with others.

For when they speak arrogant words of vanity, they entice by the lusts of the flesh and by depravity those who barely escaped from those who live in error.

2 Peter 2:18

Remember, the first phrase… Escape the corruption (phthoras.) Peter uses the same idea of escape again. This time it is to describe those who barely escape from those who live in error. I think he is speaking of Christians. These false teachers entice believers with religion. Religion is the idea that people can make themselves presentable to God by abstaining from sin.

Promised Freedom

Although they promise them freedom, they themselves are slaves of corruption, for by that which a man is overcome, to this he is enslaved. For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then turn back from the holy commandment that was delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, “The dog returns to his own vomit,” and “the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mud.”

2 Peter 2:19–22

Freedom is contrasted with the enslavement to corruption. Instead of teaching reliance on the promises of God, the false teacher offers a semblance of freedom that is really slavery.

These teachers have themselves not yet escaped corruption (phthoras) but are still slaves to it. Remember what Paul said:

Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves as slaves to obey, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

Romans 6:16

Stepping out to sin is presenting yourself as a slave to it. Sin leads to death… The (phthoras) destruction.

Back to the text in 2 Peter, these false teachers seem to escape the defilements of the world. Defilements in the Greek is the word miasmata. It’s different than phthoras, and is only used this once in the entire New Testament. The single usage connotes it has some significance.

Miasmata means shameful deeds, or what we would call sins. In other words, it seems these are escaping sins. But it only seems for a bit as they return to the carnality of the world.

When a person hears the Gospel of Jesus Christ presented they receive the knowledge of Him as Savior. What they do with that is of paramount importance as Peter hints at.

Let’s consider an example. It’s like when people come to church. They might enjoy the time of worship and even get something from the message given. They may even enjoy the fellowship and kindness that abounded. Then they leave and not applying what they heard. They are not changed. Yet, for a short period of time in church… They escaped the defilements of the world in the shelter of the Spirit present in the body of Christ. They did not repent, were not saved, and they did not receive eternal life. These go back to their carnality.

The part of having not known the way of righteousness the becomes condemnation. Each time the Gospel is ignored it hardens the heart. At each iteration it will become easier to not respond. That is why the latter state is worse not hearing.

Escape the Corruption

Christians escape the corruption and become partakers of the divine nature. It is escaping destruction. And such can never become corrupted again. Therefore losing eternal life and salvation are not possible.

Those that escape the defilements can sometimes be described with a term I like, “churchians.” These are folks who go to church and try to live a good life by not sinning, somehow thinking those things give them credibility. Some even shame others for not living like they do. Self-help and motivational therapy is not Christianity. Doing good deeds is not what makes a Christian. Neither is keeping the law or obeying commands. Don’t fall prey to the quaint religious language.

A Christian is one who believes in the One Whom God sent… Jesus. It’s His name we bear. It’s I solely in Him Who we trust. We know He lived, died for our sins, and spent three days in the grave. That was not the end… For He rose again as Victor over death.

Believing that is what makes one a Christian. Jesus keeps those who are His. Those things don’t come by following a set of rules.

Circumcision is Forever

On By TimIn Colossians 02, Eternal Security, SalvationLeave a comment

In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which also you were raised with Him through the faith of the power of God, who has raised Him from the dead.

Colossians 2:11–12

One of my favorite things about Scripture is the precision in the words used to convert an idea. There is no wiggle room for shenanigans, though many may try. Take what Paul says above. He chose his words carefully. Clearly, he is talking about salvation. Read it again, even the tenses of the verbs are significant.

In Jesus, the believer is circumcised. The body of fleshly sins is put off. It’s taken away. The verb tense for circumcised, buried, and raised is aorist. This converts that an action has accurate occurred in the past and it is not undone, with continuing effects to present and beyond.

That word circumcised is used deliberately… In three forms. That signifies grave importance, which provides tension for a pertinent questions.

Can what is circumcised away be reattached or regrow?

No. It doesn’t. Circumcision is forever.

The airiest verb tense also provides more tension. Tension that leads to more questions.

Does the one who has already been raised ever become unraised?

How does one who is already raised from the dead go back to being dead?

No.

So tell me… How does one lose salvation?

And by lose, I mean go away by whatever means one can dream up.

God’s Gift of Everlasting Life

On By TimIn Eternal Security, Gifts, Romans 11Leave a comment

Don’t let someone bamboozle you.

For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.

Romans 11:29

Said another way:

For God’s gifts and calling never change.

Romans 11:29 (ISV):

In this text, Paul was speaking directly of the privileges granted to Israel he noted by name in Romans 9:4. By extension, it includes the usage of the word gift as previously encountered in Romans. He is demonstrating a biblical principle. The gifts (and calling) of God don’t change. (Which means Israel is still God’s chosen people, righteousness, and everlasting life doesn’t change.)

Now… Considering we’ve gotten this far in Romans, we have already encountered some other truths that have application in that verse.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23

It’s unequivocally true, everlasting life is a gift of God given to the believer. There are other gifts.

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if through the trespass of one man many died, then how much more has the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. The gift is not like the result that came through the one who sinned. For the judgment from one sin led to condemnation, but the free gift, which came after many trespasses, leads to justification. For if by one man’s trespass death reigned through him, then how much more will those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:15–17

God expends the gift of righteousness lavishly. That doesn’t change either. In fact, Paul says that gift leads to justification.

But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all and upon all who believe, for there is no distinction. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith, in His blood, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins previously committed, to prove His righteousness at this present time so that He might be just and be the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.

Romans 3:21–26

This text is the crux of what Paul is teaching. It is a foundational understanding to what transpired at the cross. Note that it says the righteousness of God comes to all through faith and is ON all who believe. We already know that righteousness is a gift of God. And we know the gifts of God don’t change. Meaning that once the gift of righteousness comes upon a person, it doesn’t ever go away or even get marred.

Furthermore, the text says all have missed the mark. But those same all who missed the mark are being justified freely. (Verb tenses matter greatly. Pay attention to them!)

This is a clear demonstration of the righteousness of God. All are being justified freely as God’s gift of righteousness is extended to all.

Having already proven that righteousness is a gift that a believer already has upon them and it cannot change. Likewise, everlasting life is also a gift. But does the believer have that now?

You betcha!

“Truly, truly I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death into life.

John 5:24

And if one witness is not good enough…

Truly, truly I say to you, whoever believes in Me has eternal life.

John 6:47

The Contract with Abraham

On By TimIn Genesis 12, Israel, SalvationLeave a comment

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country, your family, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless them who bless you and curse him who curses you, and in you all families of the earth will be blessed.”

Genesis 12:1–3

This is the covenant made with Abram. It is God calling Abram to leave all that he knows. He is to go to the place that God shows to him. This covenant, or to understand better contract, comes with all sorts of stipulations. We could bullet point them.

  • Made a great nation
  • Receive blessing
  • Have a well-known reputation
  • For you to be a blessing

Of course, Abraham believed God and went as he was asked. This is plainly evident in the next verse, “So Abram departed.” He had no proof of anything other than what God told Him would happen. God said “Go.” And Abram left with no discernible delay.

Looking toward the New Testament and the great Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11, we read the retrospect.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out into a place which he would later receive as an inheritance. He went out not knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 11:8

By faith Abram obeyed. His faith was not part of the contract. His obedience was not part of the contract. God’s promises were His alone to keep. And Abram believed God would indeed keep them.

Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had accumulated, and the people that they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. They came to the land of Canaan.

Genesis 12:5

He took all of what he had and set out to the place God wanted him to go.

The Land Promised

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

Genesis 12:7

In addition to the promises detailed at first, God will give to Abram the land to which he was sent.

Now, I know in today’s political climate there is much controversy over this land. Some say it doesn’t belong to Israel, but to Palestinians. But does it really?

Drawing up the Contract

After this the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying,
“Do not fear, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Abram said, “Since You have not given me any children, my heir is a servant born in my house.”
Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but a son that is from your own body will be your heir.” He brought him outside and said, “Look up toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So will your descendants be.”
Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.

Genesis 15:1–6

I think with this text, we can get a sense of the business acumen of Abram. His negotiating skills are proficient. It might give us a hint as to what his family and business were like in Ur.

That aside, God promised a blessing, many descendants… meaning Abram would have heirs. The negotiations continue:

He also said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess it.”
But Abram said, “Lord God, how may I know that I will possess it?”

Genesis 15:7–8

The terms are given. And they’re pretty one-sided… I would say… Exclusively one-sided.

Establishing the Contract

So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
Then Abram brought all of these to Him and cut them in two and laid each piece opposite the other, but he did not cut the birds in half. When the birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

Genesis 15:9–11

As it was in those ancient days, this is how a contract was made. The Hebrew word for covenant is karath, which means to cut. Animals were cut in half and lain upon the sides of a small ravine. The blood from the animals would drain into the ravine, and the parties to the contract would walk through the collected blood to signify the effectiveness of the contract. The terms for breech… Let this blood be on the one who breeches to contract.

So what did Abram do?

As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram, and terror and a great darkness fell on him.

Genesis 15:12

Well, he did nothing. He went to sleep. The word terror doesn’t describe a feeling Abram had. It is used to describe the darkness of the deep sleep. There is no way Abram could have awakened to be privy to what would happen. It’s a subtle, yet important emphasis that applies today.

Then He said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will live as strangers in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. But I will judge the nation that they serve, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. As for you, you will go to your fathers in peace and you will be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation, your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

Genesis 15:13–16

It’s fascinating to consider that Abram was oblivious to this bit of prophecy. It is recorded for his posterity.

Now, this is important to understand.

When the sun went down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot with a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great Euphrates River—the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

Genesis 15:17–21

It was God alone Who walked amidst the blood of covenant. He alone made the land contract. The terms to honor it are all agreed to by God alone. Abram is asleep.

The Ramifications

If Abram did nothing to ratify the contract. He can do nothing to nullify or void the contract.

This is an important thing to understand. God alone promised the land to Abram. God alone promised an inheritance to Abram. God alone promised blessings to Abram. God alone promised a great name to Abram. God also promised Abram would be a blessing to the world.

We know Abram’s name was changed to Abraham. We know Abraham had an heir of his own bloodline with Sarah. (She was included in that blessing.) We know the blessing to the world came from Abraham… Jesus.

But, Abraham’s descendants took possession of some of the land promised.

God Keeps His Promises

Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Son of man, look, the house of Israel says, “The vision that he sees is for many days to come, and he prophesies of the times that are far off.”
Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God: There shall none of My words be prolonged anymore, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, says the Lord God.

Ezekiel 12:26–28

God will do what He says He will do. But it happens in His timing, not ours nor when we expect it. We got a glimpse into that in the word spoken by God to Abram while he slept deeply.

Abram wasn’t privy to the struggles of the future. He believed God, and that God would do as He said, working it all out.

It’s this simple fact that God keeps His promises that led Paul to say this:

I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6

You Know the Way

“Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God. Believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also. You know where I am going, and you know the way.”

John 14:1–4

As Jesus spoke to His disciples, He promised them He would return. He promised them a place. He gives a blessing that you share it with others.

Partakers of the Root

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and became a partaker with them of the root and richness of the olive tree,

Romans 11:17

The Bible teaches us in Romans 11 that we believers are grafted into the Root, Jesus. It says we believers take part in all the promises given to Abram. The same things promised to Abraham are ours and serve as a template or pattern to what God gives the believer.

That’s why you can believe what Jesus says. Our God keeps His Word!

Do You Hear?

Look at how the promises made to Abraham are the template for the promises given to believers by the Risen Savior Jesus.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give permission to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

Revelation 2:7

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.

Revelation 2:11

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows except he who receives it.

Revelation 2:17

“To him who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, I will give authority over the nations—
He ‘shall rule them with a rod of iron; like the vessels of a potter they shall be broken in pieces’— even as I myself have received authority from My Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 2:26–29

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments. I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:5–6

He who overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:12–13

“To him who overcomes will I grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:21–22

Abram had an ear to listen. He heard and did as God asked. He believed. His faith led to obedience to what God asked. Yet it wasn’t his obedience that was counted for righteousness. It was his faith.

I will say that if you are saved, God will never not keep His promises to you. Even if you think in some moment of weakness or rebellion… You might walk away… But really?

In Him you also, after hearing the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and after believing in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 1:13–14

It’s that indwelling Spirit that is His promise to us. He cannot be taken away.

If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

2 Timothy 2:13

Like Israel gets the land, and it is theirs by promise He is going to fulfill, your salvation is yours, by the promise He is going to fulfill.

You Shall Call Me, My Father

On By TimIn John 05, The Father1 Comment

John 5:16–18 (MEV): So the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath day. Jesus answered them, “My Father is working still, and I am working.” So the Jews sought even more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

My Father… Those two words seem to have really set the conspiracy in motion. They were like gasoline on a fire. This is not the first time that John records Jesus using this intimate reference to the Most High God.

Previously in John 2:16, Jesus cleared the temple of money changers and referenced “My Father’s house.” Perhaps in the frenzy, the intimacy was overlooked.

This phrase struck me as interesting, considering the intimacy at a time when God was perceived as distant from Israel. When I checked it out, I think of it a different way. It wasn’t the Father that was distanced from Israel. Israel had placed themselves at considerable distance from the Father. It turns out they missed many things. This one is overwhelming.

Jeremiah 3:14–18 (MEV): Return, O backsliding sons, says the Lord. For I am married to you. And I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. It shall come to pass when you are multiplied and increased in the land in those days, says the Lord, they will say no more, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” And it will not come to mind, nor will they remember it, nor will they call for it, nor will it be made any more. At that time they will call Jerusalem, the Throne of the Lord, and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord; nor will they walk any more after the stubbornness of their evil hearts. In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given to your fathers for an inheritance.

Jeremiah is prophesying of a future unification of Judah and Israel. It’s a reference to when God fulfills the promises He made to Israel. It is what we would call the end days.

He speaks of peace and the restoration of the Davidic kingdom. It is to be a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity. And it was set right before them.

Jeremiah 3:19 (MEV): But I said: How can I put you among My sons and give you a pleasant land, the most beautiful heritage of the nations?
And I said: You shall call Me, My Father, and shall not turn away from Me.

Some students of the Bible understand that Jesus is called Israel. And in a way, He was doing the same pattern established in prophecy. It was another of those bona fides He gave to us to tell us Who He is. Of course, the religious folk of the day let us know that, too.

You shall call me, My Father.

My version of preference showed exactly the reference being to the Messiah by capitalizing “My.”

It is those details that are often overlooked.

Nevertheless, Jesus’ use of this intimate term ought to have been a sign that the restoration of the Kingdom was upon them. Instead, the nation set out to distance themselves considerably more further away from the Father, as if that could even be possible.

Even as Jesus bears the end of His ministry, and in great anguish… The intimacy continues. It is equivalent to the English word daddy. The repetition conveys importance.

Mark 14:36 (MEV): He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.”

Then Israel succeeded in killing the Anointed One, just as it was said He would be cut off. That set forth a delay in establishing the Kingdom physically to the nation. It also ushered in a time of judgment on Israel.

That judgement to them brought great blessing to Gentiles. These would be included in sharing the blessings and salvation of God to the world.

It’s that intimacy God wants with His people. Is the intimacy set Christian’s proclaim! He wanted that intimacy with them and with us. It is offered to anyone who wants it.

John 1:12–13 (MEV): Yet to all who received Him, He gave the power to become sons of God, to those who believed in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

If you’ve read this far, that right of becoming a child of God is offered to you. Just ask Him.

Romans 8:14–17 (MEV): For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of slavery again to fear. But you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirits that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified with Him.

This idea of adoption is so important. He wants you to be that intimate with Him.

Ask.